Valve for drinking-fountains.



2. RAMSEY,

VALVE Fon Mmmm FOUNTMNS AIPLIGATION FILED JANQV, 1911.

Faltante@ Fab. 13, 1912e To all whom v't 'may conca-rn:

JOSEPH 1i. nAMsEY,

OF DORCHESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

vALvE Fo'R DRINKING-FOUNTAINS. Y

Be it. .known that I, JOSEPH D. RAMssr,'a citizen of the United States, residing at l.)orch ester, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented an 4Improvement inl .Valves for DrinltingFo1m` tains, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying draw ings, is a specification, like l etters on the drawings representing like parts.

'Fhepresent-day tendency toward requiring `tlr'e use of strictly-sanitary appliances for public convenience, has evolved a t ype'of drinking fountain in which no drinking cup is required andthe month of the user does not lcome -in contact with any part of the device, this type involving the projection` of a small column oiwter a. short distance into the air, 4which may be drank from directly. The devices of this type -in common use are subject to quite a number of objections.' As

vordinarilyconstructed, they either run contiuuously or leak, so as to `vaste large quan tities of water, constituting a serious item of loss ina city supply,- espe'eially where a large number of them are used. The construction is usually of such a nature that children, in play or malice, can byl partially closing the outlet with a linger, squirt water about, tothe annoyance Ji-others. Furtheig lsuch devices ashave been provided with 'a controllable outlet, have been of such a nature that the lstream could be vmade so small thatI the user could. puthis m'outh over the deliveryv tube end, thu"s defeating the prime purpose of sanitary attributes.` A

invent-ion provides an improved fountain having provision whereby the'water completely sluit 'ed except in manipulation for use; having an outlet end so constructed that any. contact therewith either by the hand or the mouth of the user, will shut oft the ow of Water; and, further, the arrangement being such that When the'outlet is open- Specication of Letters Patent.

application mea January 9,4511.

at all, thel full stream is delivered, of a. size to tend-to prevent the application of the mouth of the user to the delivery tube end.` I moreover provide means whereby the .normal Water delivery'in use can be easily regulated to a nicety, and other features of improvement in details, all as v vill hereinafter more fully appear by reference to thel following description in ,connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is Va side elevation of the improved valve construction; Fig.- is a cen- Patent-ed nel. 1'2, 1912. sriaiivo. 601,565.

tral vertical section thereof; and Fig. 3 is a transverse section on line 3*-3 of Fig. 2.

In the preferred embodiment shown, `the' valve comprises a lower tubular part 1 and an upper tubular part 2 the former threaded at 3 for engagement with any suitable source of Water supply, as-the L-connection 4.l The parts l, 2 are thneaded together at .fi-for conj vemence of` assembling,

pairing the valve. Supported against an inner annular ledge 6 is a v'alve seat 7, pref`v e'rably of rubber, coperating with a metallic valve 8, having a relatively long conical seat portion to engage a somewhat shorter outstanding seating annulus' 9 on the" lvalve -seat 1.

l. The purpose of the aforesaid special coustructlon 1s two-fold. By making the. movmg part,;f'. 0., the partfS, of metal, it is feasible to have 1t.so small that'ltioli'ers a adjusting, and reminimun resistance to the water pressure,

so that,"notwithstanding the factthatthe latter is usuallyhigh, the valve can Abe`operated with scarcely any effort. This makes l the valve so easy tooperate, although opening directly against -the full water-pressure, that it 'can be operatedV by a child. By' havingthe valve seat of rubber and shaped as shown, the part 8 will always close perfectly against the rubber surface of the seat?, en gaging the entire opposing portion thereof, and notwithstanding that the wear takes place almost altogether'on the seat, the latter will wear down cve r ily,vvithout tendencyfto have a groove -forrned therein, because of the longer length of the engaging surface on the metal part 8. The valve 8 is normally held upward against its seat-bye spring itl-having an abutment 11 ,threaded in the bottoni ot the part 1, andthe upwardly 'extending stem 12 ot the valve is cylindrical and liasa relatively snug fit Within the axial opening provided therefor, said stem proJecting somewhat above the top of said opening and having any desired number of grooysl, shown as four, formed throughout it's ,length to permit the passage'of- Waterl wlj'eufthe Vvalveis open.

seat 14, also' preferably of rubber, to `receive a conicalannulus '15 shown' as constituting.

Above (he ledge (i is an' annular packing' whose central passage 17 the water flows upward, having entrance Into the depending sage 17, said Water having venit from thenp 'f the lower end of a sliding pluglli, throng I .Wardly projecting closed end 20 of said passage 17 through a similar set .of lateral apertines Above the plug lll, 'provided with a tube 22 passage 17', said'two sets of apertures being maintained'normally out of register or alinement, by a spring 2G which rests atone end on a fixed internal abutment 2T and at' its other end 'engages the tube 22. When, however, the plug 1 6 is'li'nvc'red into vak-"eolien ing posit ion` the apertures 2l are thereby lowered suiliciently to bring them into accurate alinelnent with' the 'apertures 25 so as to permit the water to flow properly to form the desired bubble for drinking purposes. A

pin '29"proj'ecting inwardly from the outer casing or part 2 occupies aslot'28- in the tube 22 so as to limit thecxtent of movement of said tube 22., The upper free end of the tube 22- projects slightly' above the open upper end of the part-2 and constitutes the dey livery end of the valve from which the buhble-is projected for drinkin'gpur oses, 'This drinking let orifice, he would si vvalve 8 'is to be construction constitutes'the pre erred means of carrying out one of the principal features 'o'l my invention', viz., the automatic cutting ott of the flow o f water is made improperly to 'divert the .water. For instance, 4in-the common construction of bubble-fountains it has become an annoying pastime for boys to place their thumb or handover the outlet orifice and thereby divert or-'sqnirt jets of water at passers-b the Water pressure exerting suf- :ficien't force against the thumb or hand, when held so as not qu-iteto close tightly the orifice. to produce a lateral jet of considerableA carrying "force By my construction, however, itwill be observed that if a boy should place his thumb or hand on the outmply depress the tube 22 against the slight resistance of the spring 26 and thereby entirely cutotl the Ilow at a point wholly below the outletoritice, the downward movementof said tube 22 causing the cup ,24 to slide down on.. the thimbleend 20 so as to move the apertures 21 out of lilinernerltwvith the apertures'25, and thereby entirely stop the iow of water. The'spring 2G and various adjustments of the parts are preferably such that this'downward'movementand consequent euttingoil of-the water flow will be accomplished by the slightest external engagement with the projecting end of the tube 24.

he depending portion'lS of the plug 1G serves the double purpose of acting as a projectlon-to engage the valve stem 12 when the opened,'and also to receive 'thelparts 18 and 12,

whenever an attemptand guide a spring 30' whose lower end rests against a fixed part of the valve'casing, the

.upper end of said spring.preferablyoccupying a recess provided therefor around the cud 18 inthe lower par-t of the. plug 16.

This spring holds the plug normally in inupper end of the vstem 12 ofthe valve 8,

.thereby simultaneously opening the valve 8 and also bringing the apertures 2l and 25 into alinement so as to sage for the flow of the of the desired bubble.' a space or provision open the outlet pasfor lost motion between have accomplished most of thel downward movement o1' the'plug 16 before the opening movement of the'- valve 8, and' the opening movement of the latter'takes place therefore end 18 engages the' so that the operator will Water and'formation 'Preferably there is' just as the downward movement of the plug 16 is terminating. Theobject of this pro-v vision is to make practically-certain that .the ordinary user will not beable'to open thc valve only partially and thereby permit only an extremely small hubble,but he will necessarily open the vah'e 8 fully so as to permit the full flow of water to cause anormal fullsized bubble. The latter vis'desirable from 'the vhygienic standpoint, because a small bubble permits, and in fact invites, the user to place his mouth over the entire valve outlet, whereas a full-sized, strong bubble tends to prevent 'the user placing his mouthagainst any part of the apparatus, inasmuch, as the bubble -is sutciently high to permit, and practically require, the mouth to be held some distance above the bubbleprifice.

Any suitable operating mechanism may be employed, a suitable manual operating lever being herein shown as the preferable construction (not'intending bythe word manual to limit the'mechanism to the hand specifically, but to include a device capable lof beingvoperated by the foot or in fact by any othernon-automatic means.) A handle lever 31 is shown as fulcrumed at 32 to a bracket 33 projecting from a fixed support on the valve casing, said lever- 31 being shown as loosely embracing the casing. and provided with pins 34 l extending inwardly therefrom through elongated openings 35 in the-part 2 into engagement with the plug 16. Preferably a drip -cup 36 is supported 4around the casing .to receive the overtlow of water,

.and the\e'nd of the handle lever 31 is shown as extending through a vertical slot 3'?I in the sideof Asaid basin. This construction has considerable advantage, especially where 'the drinking .fountain lis to be used by boys. Then lever 3 1 is protected by the basin or slotted support, and the handle end or swinging end thereof is port close to its extremit so that a boy cangiven positive supat' readily exert enough pressure thereon to break the lever, and also the ends of the slot 3'! give a positive limit to 'the movement of the lever. This pei-mits 'tlie 'use of a rel- 5 aiively long lever, so that even a. small child can easily .exert the slight pressure requisite for operating the fountain, and yet, notwithstanding this otherwise relativel weak construction, there is no liability o its getting broken' by the rough usagecommon from boys. Two further important results are accomplished bythe sha e and. tip of the projecting portion of t e handle and the location' thereof with reference to the cup,-

viz., the water cannot splash on said portion nor run down thereon to wet the linger4 or glove of the lady user, foi-instance, when depressing the lever.

Preferably Iiprovidc nieans 'for controlling to anicety the size or rather length of the bubble, independently .of the valve mechanism, said means being herein shown as. comprising a cap or nut 38 having threaded engagement with a projection 39 annular depending flange 40, forming ai cap adapted to fit closely over said apci'tured part 24 to close the outlet openings 25 therein. A kerf 41 is herein shown as acon-venient eiigageable portion to receive a screwopenings 42, 43 arerpreferably provided to prevent improper action of the parts :by the accidental accumula-tion of Water inside pipe or any other suitable means,` is pro'- vided lfor the escape of water 'from the catch basin or cup.

ln practice, the Water-'is entirely cut ott 45 from flowing in anyway, by means priv marily ofthe closed valve 8 and also by reason of the fact that the openings '21 and 25;

are `then out of alinemeiit, the former being raised .higher in, the cup-like part 9A than llieengages the handle end of the lever 3l where it projects 'very slightly beyond the basin 36, and depresses the saine. This is accomplished with an exceedingly slight pressure', because, first, of the long leverage, and second, the sinall-cross-sectional area. of the .valve 8.so that a child can readily operate thedevice. -As the lever passes through the greater portion of its movement before causing the depending part18 to engage the valve stein l2 of the valve 8, which valve then opened full by the slight remaining movement of the lever, the' bubble spurts up immediately to the right extent for drinking purposes. The downward moveextending upwardly vfrom the top o f theapertured part 24 and provided' with anv the part 24, and an outlet nipple 44, for i the latter. W'lien anyone desires' adi-ink,`

ment of the lever, besides opening the valve S, has also moved the upper end 2O of the passage 17 down suiiiciently to bring its n apertures 21 into alinenient with the` apen tures 25 of the inclosingciip-like part 24, through which therefore Athe water flows freely to form the bubble above the open outer end of the slightly projecting tube 22.

I-f the bubble projects too far or too strongly the regulating cap or nut 38 is turned down slightly so as to reduce the outlet openings 'or apertures somewhat, whereas if the bubble is notl strong enough, said regulating cap is ,turned in an opposite direction. It a mischievous boy claps his hand over the out-let orifice, thinking to squirt soine water on a'passer-by, his saidmovemeiit simply cuts oil' the How of Water absolutely, by depressing the tube 22 so as to move the apertures 25 Aout of alinement with the apertures 21. Even if the boy himself has hold of the handle lever 31, he cannot so manipulate the 'valve as to use it for the mischievous pui'- pose Aofsquirting wat-er, inasmuch as this orifice control is independent of the regular valve control. 4

Preferably the mounting of the tube is so delicate that even the engagement thereof with the mouth will instantly sluit otl the water. As the upper annulus 15 is firmly engage-d with the seat,14 at all times `whenwater is flowing,- nof leakage up around the plug k16 'can take place. l l A further 'advantage of my invention is that the water passes in' a comparatively :straight line up through the device, pockets and traps for segment being eliminated. It

will bex understood that iii places where the valve i not open to common use by children,

etc., may be omitthe re iilatiiig device 22, ted, inkvhich case the water passage 17 need not he, .app'ed over at its ends. .And in general, it will be understood, while I have described niy improved valve organization ii;

its preferred embodiments, I am not limited the-reto excepting as specified in certainof the claims, and also that while it is primarily intended tor 'use as va drinking fountain, I am not limited to this field of usefulness.

Having described my' invention,what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is, Y

`1. The herein described valve, comprising an outlet for delivering a drinking bubble, a supply conduit for transmitting fluid to said outlet," and automatic. means for stopping the flow through said siipplyeonduit to said outlet', operable by such engagement with said' outlet as tends to close the latter.

lie herein described valve, coiiipris-- ing aii'outlet for delivering a drinking huhblt-,.coniiectioiis for lransiiiiitingr the fluid to' said out-let, afniannally operated valve for opening an(l,l-losiiig .saiilrouricctipnm and 133 automatic 'means for positively cutting oli the tloiv of liquid-to said outlet operable in-v dependently of said valve by engagement with said outlet which tends to close the .5 latter. c

'lhe herein described valve, 'comprising arcadily movable outlet part for delivering a drinking bubble, a supply conduit for .transinitting luidto said outlet part, and

automatic means for stopping the flow through said supply' conduit to saidoutlct, cf'nitiollalivle by movement'. ot saidoutlet .pa rt by a closing pressing movement against the outlet.

4.' The hereindescribed valve, comprising :an outlet for delivering a. drinking bubble.l mounted to yield in a direction oppositkl lo that (if the'tlelivery tloiv, al supply conduit lfor transmitting iluid to said outlet, and

means operable byslight pressure against said outlet for stopping the flow said supply conduit. y

5; The herein described valve, comprising an outlet for delivering a drink-ing bubble,

through mounted to yield in a direction opposite to that of the delivery low, a supply Aconduitfor transmitting fluid to said outlet, means operable by slight pressure against said outlet for stopping the flow through said supplylconduit, and manually operable meansV 'i for controllingthe primary. flow to the outlet.

6. The herein described valve, comprising two' tubular portions mounted for relative endavise movement, normallyhaving a liq' nid passage therethrough, aid

; normal position.

l 7 The herein described valve, comprising a. tube having lateral apertures, a second larger-tube having a, rentrant ('Zap at yits end fitted over said first tube, said. cap having apertures therein adapted to normally i register' with said first apertures, and means.

for yieldably holding said tubes ,in normal posit' n, the parts being movable to adjust said s ts otl .apertures out 0l alinement uponv relative movement from normal position.

Y S. The herein described valve, comprising an outlet. for delivering a drinking bubble, a supply conduit for transmitting iluid to said outlet, means for determinably regulating the tlowtoa saidoutlet, and automatic means forlsto'ppiiig the flow through said supply conduit toA saidoutlet'operable by suon engagement with said.. outlet as tends to close the latter. f

9'. -The herein described valve,'com rising aii outlet for delivering a drinkingubble, a supply conduit` for transmitting fluid to said outlet, a."n ormally closed connection.; lfrom said.supplyconduitto said outlet,'a

hand operated means for opening said cor nection, and automatic' meansior closing said connection l.operable by such engagement with-said outlet. as tends to close the latter. 10. The here-in ing an outlet toi lrlivei'iiig adrinkiug bubble, a supply conduit for transmitting fluid said outlet, said conduitand said outlet. ha ving lateral openings normally out of regisler.y and hand operated 'means t'or bringing said openingsinto register, said outlet being against lo again close said lateral openings. 11. The herein described valve, comprising an outlet for dclivering'a drinking hubble to yield in a dirci-tion opposite to that of t-lie delivery lion', a supply conduit for mally closed connection between said confor moving a portion of. said conduit and lthereby opening said connection, said outlet being movable by slight pressure thereagai'nst to close said connection and stop the flow through said supply conduit;

ingan outlet for delivering a drinking bubble having an automatically vcontrollable delivery, a valve ,arranged to also control the flow' to said outlet, and an opera-ting device for said valve having a lost-1notion connection. 1'3. The herein described device, comprising'a liquid conduit, an outlet therefrom for delivering a drinking bubble and having an automatic control thereof, -a' valve to further control the passage, means for preventing leakage, and meansfor simultanemusly operating said leali-preventing means and opening said valve.

"14. ',lhe herein described device, comprising a liquid conduit, an outlet therefrom for delivering a drinking bubble and an automatic control, avalve to -control the passa-ge to said outlet, and oppositely disposed means to prevent leakage, and means including a lost-motion connectionfor closing said leak-preventing means and opening said valve.

15. The herein described device, coinprising a liquid conduit, an outlet therefrom for delivering a drinkingr bubble having an the passage, a plug having a passage way -therethrough arranged to contact with said passage valve to open the same. 16.A The herein described device, compris- `delivering a vdrinking bubble, a valve conating device 'torsaid valve having a substantialrange of movement Within limits,

described valve, comprismovable by .slight endvvisc pressure there! transmitting tluid to said outlet in slidable p relation to said outlet, there ne-ing a nor-` duit and said outlet., hand operated meansl2. TN. herein described device com )ris` .luga liquid cond uit, an outlet therefrom for Y trolling the passage therethrough, an oper to said I,outlet in slidab'le connection with automatic control, a valve to further controlV a further passage controller having parts normally out of register, and connections Y and simultaneously bring said controller parts into register.

17. The herein described device, comprising a liquid conduit, an outlet therefrom for delivering a drinking bubble and having an automatic control, said conduit having at a point adjacent said outlet, lateral openings, and' a regulating cap adjustable over said openings to control the conduit passage.

18. The herein described valve, comprising a conduit for the Water, bubble--producM ing and controlling mechanism therein, an

external manual-operating device, and an overlianging protector interposed between Vthe manually engaged endl of said device and the delivery end of the conduit,'for pro= tecting said manually engaged' end from the Water, said operating device projecting through said protector -and having rits end name to this specification, in the presence of.

vtwo subscribing witnesses.

n JOSEPH D. RAMSEY.

Witnesses: I

lViLLLiM J PIKE, EDWARD MAXWELL. 

